We got a taxi direct from the airport to Sintra, as we did not want to drive unfamiliar roads at night. During the following two days we explored this beautiful but very touristy town.
1 The Palacio Nacional in Sintra, rebuilt by the king, Dom Joao I , who defeated the Castilian rulers and reigned from 1385 to 1433. The building shows the influence of the Moors who ruled Portugal until the Reconquista in 1139.
2 The palace seen from the opposite hill
3 Entry to the very pretty Merenda Park
4 Light and dark in the Merenda Park
5 A large hall in the Palacio Nacional
6 Ceiling of the Sala dos Cisnes, the Hall of Swans
7 Sala das Pegas, or Magpie Room
8 Mosaics and fireplace of the Sala das Pegas
9 The ceiling shows, of course, magpies, in reference to the gossiping ladies of the court.
10 Splendid mosaics of the Sala das Pegas
11 Bedroom
12 More beautiful mosaics
13 Magnificent desk
14 Ships painted on the ceiling symbolize Portugese exploration of the world.
15 Sala dos Brasoes
16 The blasoes are the blazons of 72 noble families.
17 A simple but lovely bedroom
18 The kitchens
19 Sintra seen from the entry to the palace
20 On top of the hill is the 9th-century Castelos dos Mouros, the Moorish Castle.
21 Hill and castle
22 Happy Swedish tourist at the palace
23 Behind an empty palace, the Palacio da Pena and its chapel
24 Palacio da Pena
25 The park of the palace is filled with kitschy caverns, waterfalls and various buildings.
26 In the park of the Palacio da Pena
27 Lovely woodsy walk to the Castelo dos Mouros
28 Flowers on the walk to the Castelo dos Mouros
29 Very pretty, but what is it?
30 Castelo dos Mouros
31 Palacio Nacional (and our hotel) viewed from the Castelo dos Mouros
32 Palacio Nacional viewed from the Castelo dos Mouros
